The Grants Committee decides, based on the applications received, where the grant funds can have the greatest and most positive impact.

The Columbia Valley Community Foundation’s key criteria for Community Grants is:

• Be in good standing as a registered Canadian charity as per Canada Revenue Agency, or qualified donee (see list below)
• The project is for our Columbia Valley communities and region only – from Spillimacheen through to Canal Flats
• The project plan demonstrates a commitment to the project through meaningful contribution of the applicant’s own human and/or financial resources
• Fits mission and mandate of your organization

Beyond the key criteria, additional successful grant award criteria are:

• Plan is well-defined, detailed with clear timelines
• Staff and volunteer capabilities are well-suited to the project
• Budget is reasonable with realistic amounts requested for activities proposed
• Funding list includes at least one other confirmed funding source or in-kind contribution
• Evidence suggests that the approach is likely to succeed
• Risks are reasonable and accounted for
• The project has a proven need and will produce measureable results
• The project fits with one (or more) of the Columbia Valley Community Foundation’s identified priorities from Vital Signs
• The project does not duplicate other programs in the valley, except in an instance where collaborative/incremental/complementary need can be documented
• Administration expenses are reasonable
• The application is received by the deadline with all necessary files included

Qualified donees are as follows:

• a registered Canadian charity (including a registered national arts service organization);
• a registered Canadian amateur athletic association;
• a listed housing corporation resident in Canada constituted exclusively to provide low-cost housing for the aged;
• a listed Canadian municipality;
• a listed municipal or public body performing a function of government in Canada;
• a listed university outside Canada that is prescribed to be a university, the student body of which ordinarily includes students from Canada;
• a listed charitable organization outside Canada to which Her Majesty in right of Canada has made a gift;
• Her Majesty in right of Canada, a province, or a territory; and
• the United Nations and its agencies.

If your organization is not a qualified donee, please read the Canada Revenue Agency’s guidelines for intermediary organizations.

The Community Foundation is not always able to fund all the requests it receives in any granting cycle.